Tide Buzz: No. 1 Alabama (8-0) at No. 5 LSU (7-1)

Alabama Coach Nick Saban leads his team to the field before the Mississippi State game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012. (Mark Almond/ malmond@al.com)

The details:

What: No. 1 Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC) at No. 5 LSU (7-1, 3-1)

When: 7 p.m. CDT Saturday

Where: 92,542-seat Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

TV: CBS

Line: Alabama is favored by 9.5 points

This game will determine ...

If
Alabama truly is poised to reclaim the SEC West division, win back the
SEC title and roll into its third BCS championship appearance in the
past four years. There's been no test as big as the one it faces
Saturday night against LSU, and there likely wouldn't be one until a
trip to Miami if it's able to beat the Tigers for a second straight
time.

Three things to look for:

1. Red zone warriors. The
Crimson Tide essentially lost last year's regular season matchup
against LSU because of its shortcomings inside the Tigers' 20-yard line.
What could have been touchdowns turned into far too many missed field
goals. Alabama, though, has been significantly more proficient in the
red zone this season, scoring touchdowns on 26 of its 35 opportunities.
Alabama's goal? Don't put any unnecessary stress on kickers Jeremy
Shelley and Cade Foster.

2. Something's got to give. LSU boasts one of the best
rushing attacks in the country, averaging 208 yards per game thanks to
the efforts of four capable backs. Alabama has yet to surrender a rush
attempt of more than 22 yards and no opponent has even come close to
cracking the century mark against it. This is the definition of
Irresistible Force meets Immovable Object.

3. Kickoff coverage. There aren't many areas where teams
can exploit Alabama, but kickoff return has emerged as a significant
weakness for the Crimson Tide. In the last three weeks, Alabama has
surrendered a kickoff return for a touchdown and allowed an average of
28.9 yards per return. Overall, Alabama is 101st in the nation in
kickoff return yardage defense. It's something, safety Vinnie Sunseri
said, that's been addressed this week in practice.

Key matchup:

Alabama's offensive line vs. LSU's defensive line.
Both units have been called the best in the country by countless
opposing coaches throughout the season, and both have, at times, looked
like it against inferior competition. But on Saturday, it's good on
good. The Crimson Tide's strength is up the middle thanks to strong play
from guards Chance Warmack and Anthony Steen and center Barrett Jones,
while LSU thrives on the ends with Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery.
Saying this game will be won in the trenches might be a cliche, but it's
an accurate description for this showdown.

By the numbers:

5.6 — Average margin of victory for either team in this
rivalry since Nick Saban took over at Alabama in 2007. That figure, of
course, is for regular season matchups. The Tide's 21-0 BCS championship
victory was a relative aberration in this series.